title: Household salt iodine content estimation with the use of rapid test kits and iodometric titration methods.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Universal salt iodization remains the best strategy for controlling iodine deficiency disorders in Nepal.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to study the salt types and the household salt iodine content of school aged children in the hilly and the plain districts of eastern Nepal.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was carried out on school children of seven randomly chosen schools from four districts, namely, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha and Tehrathum of eastern Nepal. The school children were requested to bring two teaspoonfuls (approx. 12-15 g) of the salt which was consumed in their households, in a tightly sealed plastic pouch. The salt types were categorized, and the salt iodine content was estimated by using rapid test kits and iodometric titrations. The association of the salt iodine content of the different districts were tested by using the Chi-square test. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the rapid test kits were compared with the iodometric titrations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study showed that mean±SD values of the salt iodine content in the four districts, namely, Sunsari, Dhankuta, Sankhuwasabha and Tehrathum were 34.2±17.9, 33.2±14.5, 27.4±15.1 and 48.4±15.6 parts per million (ppm). There were 270 (38.2%) households which consumed crystal salt and 437(61.8%) of the households consumed packet salts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study recommends a regular monitoring of the salt iodization programs in these regions. More families should be made aware of the need to ensure that each individual consumes iodized salt.
authors.affiliation: Research Assistant, Department of Biochemistry, B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences , Dharan, Nepal .
authors.forename: Ashwini Kumar
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Nepal
authors.forename: Prem
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Raj Shakya
authors.forename: Basanta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gelal
authors.forename: Madhab
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lamsal
authors.forename: David A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Brodie
authors.forename: Nirmal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baral
keywords: Iodine deficiency; Nepal; Salt iodine content